Sheriff shares back to school safety tips

Service Recognition: Correction Officer Brian Schleede completed 20 years of service. I salute Brian for his service!

New York State Sheriffs’ Summer Camp: This summer I had the pleasure to send 23 children from the county to the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute's Summer Camp. The Sheriffs' Summer Camp is designed to provide a solid recreational program combined with the development of a sense of good citizenship and to provide a child who ordinarily would not have the opportunity for a summer camp experience.

Throughout the week-long stay, the children observe special exhibits and demonstrations presented by Sheriffs’ Offices from across the State. Included in these presentations are anti-bullying, self-esteem classes, boat and bike safety programs, law enforcement equipment and technical demonstrations, archery competitions for accuracy and even a talent show just for fun. I would like to recognize the following agencies and people for their help in recruiting the children; Public Health Rosemary Guchone; Aging and Youth Jennifer Buckalew, Deb VanHousen, Val Hippert and Kathy McGonigal; Department of Social Services Judi Bennett and Laureen Mart; Victims Resource Center Maureen Beerson and Robin Canne; Probation Pam Phillips; North Rose – Wolcott School Irene Interlichia; and Head Start Sandy Virts.

After the recruitment, my Secretary Betty Rose Chardeen then handles the registrations, logistics, and coordination, and personally supervises several trips of transportation of the kids to and from the camp. To make this all possible, it is also the goodwill and charitable giving of the Sheriffs' Association's Honorary Members that gives these kids the opportunity to attend the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp. Thank you to all that recruited and the Sheriffs’ Association’s Honorary Members of Wayne County for your help and generosity!

Operation Safe Child: The Operation SAFE CHILD Card program is a free service administered by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association with the technological support of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). County Sheriffs and other agencies around New York State produce SAFE CHILD cards for parents and guardians at public events throughout the year.

The main purpose of the program is to capture identifying information about your child on a SAFE CHILD card. The same information is stored in a statewide database. The storage of this information is entirely voluntary and requires the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. In addition to quickly providing important details to police agencies investigating child disappearances, the SAFE CHILD card can be used in conjunction with the NYS AMBER Alert and Missing Child Alert programs. If a child goes missing, the SAFE CHILD program allows their information to be electronically disseminated within minutes, significantly increasing the possibility of bringing a missing child home. The information is stored in a database at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). When DCJS receives a missing child report, the fingerprints of that child are compared against all incoming fingerprints submitted to DCJS.

Page 2 of 2 - A parent or lawful guardian can request that the information be purged from the database at any time. When a child turns 18, the fingerprints are automatically purged from the database. At community events and festivals around Wayne County this year deputies have issued over 1,000 Safe Child cards.

Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers: The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit. Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary space to safely enter and exit the bus. Children walking to or from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings. This makes them more likely to take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when crossing the street. Children are unpredictable. Leave for your destination a little earlier to avoid being rushed with the increased traffic and several stops of school buses. Concentrate on your driving when driving and be alert.

Contact me at 946-5797 or bvirts@co.wayne.ny.us with any questions or concerns you may have.